New center to open for homeless people

Gainesville, Florida -- After years of planning and talks a new homeless center will finally open in Gainesville on June 1st.

Theresa Lowe with the Coalition for the Homeless says the marketplace will provide many different services to homeless people.

Lowe says they will be able to attend chapel services, do laundry, receive their mail, and do all this in a safe, respectful and dignified way.

Director's with the center are also trying to convince many agencies who provide meals to the homeless at Bo Diddly Plaza to start doing so at the marketplace instead.

The goal is to get everything on one campus to make it easier to connect to services.

Jon Decarmine, Director of Operations: "What we're trying to do is sort of a Walmart model and provide services all in one location so you can come to one place, get what you need and hopefully be able to transition back into housing."

Lowe says they are already moving into the old correctional institution.

The new marketplace will also start providing overnight services on July 1st.